Jo Anne McKnight: Semmes Heritage Festival set for April 13

The public is invited to the 10th Annual Semmes Heritage Festival on Saturday, April 13 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Semmes Heritage Park, 3871 Wulff Road. The event will begin with a cannon firing and the presentation of the flag by Mary G. Montgomery High School's ROTC, followed by music from the choirs of MGM and Allentown Elementary School and the Lost and Found Christian Orchestra. The Square Deal Square Dancers and other local talent will perform.

The 1902 Semmes Schoolhouse and Malone Chapel will be open to visitors, and there will be historic-document displays and demonstrations of old-fashioned crafts. Children can take part in games such as their great-grandparents played. And this year, said festival chair Jeanette Byrd, visitors are encouraged to dress up a plain old hat and enter a fashion show and "Best Hat" contest. Other events and activities include an antique tractors exhibit, displays of old hand tools, a plant sale by Mary G. Montgomery High School, food and drink for purchase.

Visitors can also take a chance on winning a beautiful hand-made quilt designed and crafted by the Semmes Heritage Quilters, who meet weekly at Malone Chapel. The quilt will be awarded at the Old-Fashioned Christmas program in December; proceeds from the event will benefit the 1902 school.

Byrd is still looking for participants willing to share their skill in such "olden" activities as butter churning, weaving, rug making, lace making, embroidery, crochet, tatting, making apple juice or cider, crosscut sawing--and those who would like to display their collections of carpenter tools, turpentine harvesting equipment, antique farm implements, cooking utensils and so on. For more information, call her at 251-649-1647.

The Citronelle Historical Preservation Society's Surrender Oak Festival is May 4, 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Organizers are calling for those interested in demonstrating their traditional skills, selling their wares and exhibiting their products to log onto the CHPS website at www.citronellehps.org to find the application for vendors, demonstrators and exhibitors or visit the organization on Facebook at www.facebook.com/citronellehps. The day is full of fun events, most of which are held at the Citronelle Depot Museum. This year, the festival will coincide with the Oil Bowl Barbecue Cook Off sponsored by Keep Citronelle Beautiful.

Georgetown-Chunchula United Methodist Church is seeking public support to win a $20,000 Walmart "Fighting Hunger Grant" to expand its aid to families and communities served by Georgetown-Chunchula, West Wilmer and Citronelle Methodist Churches. The public is encouraged to vote once a day, every day during April. Visit the church's Facebook page for a voting link and more information.

Applications for the Chickasaw Woman's Club Annual Natalie Simison Scholarship are due April 8. Residents of Chickasaw are eligible as well as grandchildren of Woman's Club members. The scholarship winner will be notified by April 15; presentation will be at Chickasaw Civic Center on April 22. For information, call Scholarship Chair Katherine Johns at 251-452-3779; other members of the committee are Nancy Elliott, Deborah Hayward and Nell Barnes.

To help support their annual scholarship, the Chickasaw Woman's Club will hold a yard sale on Saturday, April 13 frp, 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Fireworks Stand on Lee Street. To make a donation or for information, call Barbara Pulliam, 251-457-2339.

Chickasaw Game Day with Friends is Friday, April 12, at 10 a.m. at the Chickasaw Civic Center. Call 251-452-6464 for transportation.

Chickasaw Seniors Early Bird Breakfast was held April 1; among those attending were Jerry and Barbara Pulliam, Mabry Harbin, Joy Middleton and Eloise Clubbs. City senior leader, Stephanie Stewart, reminded those present that they can still submit orders for food from OneHarvest, a non-profit, faith-based organization committed to helping American families with affordable high-quality food. Boxes of food range from $46 to as low as $20. Call 251-452-6464 for details; applicants must prepay each month. Stewart also encouraged seniors to sign up to compete in Senior Adult Master Games. Call her at 251-452-6464 for events offered.

Citronelle Cancer Support Group will meet Tuesday, April 9, 2 p.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church, 8025 State Street. Call Ruby Hendry at 251-866-7517 for information.

Citronelle Garden Club meeting is Wednesday, April 10, at 2:30 p.m. at Citronelle Depot Museum. Call Hilda Landers at 251-866-7824 for information.

North Mobile Garden Society's April 11, 6:30 p.m. meeting will be hosted by Emily Arellano and Sue Smith at the home of Emily, 5763 Vaughan W, in Satsuma. New officers have been announced, and they are, as president, Dana Bernal, Creola; treasurer, Emily Arellano, Satsuma and secretary, Ramona Knight, Satsuma.

"We encourage visitors and new members at our meetings," Knight said. "Now that spring is here and the evenings are longer, we will have the opportunity to tour and enjoy each others' gardens," she said. The group is scheduled to take a field trip to "Antiques in the Garden" at Petals from the Past in Jemison, Alabama on Saturday, April 20. "The City of Satsuma is providing the city bus and Melvin Robinson will be our driver," Knight said.

Seating is limited so those who plan to go should call Knight at 251-401-0882 to make arrangements. Membership in the club is encouraged; for information, call the above number or email Knight at jerryknight9311@att.net,

Friends of Semmes meeting is Thursday, April 11 at 5:30 p.m. at Century Bank in Semmes. For information, call Terri Nelson, 251-649-3163.

The next meeting of Turnerville Ladies Club is Tuesday, April 9, 10 a.m. at the Turnerville Community Center, 11230 Celeste Road. Call Arleen Walker, 251-679-7783 for information.

The Grand Opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony for Semmes Senior Center, 9635 Moffett Road, is Thursday, April 11 at 10 a.m. The public is invited to tour the beautiful building that will serve the senior citizens of west Mobile County.

Carolyn Sue Williams Cain, Satsuma High School Class of 1965, is extending an invitation to her classmates and all graduates of SHS to become part of a unique project called "The Courtyard of Gator Legacy." The details, she said, are posted on the Satsuma Class of '58 website or information can be obtained by calling her at 251-455-6748 or by email at carolynsuecain@hotmail.com. The project, which entails setting a marker between the old gym and the new high school, is being sponsored and promoted by the Saraland-Satsuma Education Council.